Sreekumar, Prasanth share honours

Palakkad: Fine bowling by left-arm spinner Sreekumar Nair (4/43) and Medium pacer Prashanth Chandran (3/43) enabled Kerala to restrict Uttar Pradesh for 214 runs in their first innings on the opening day in the elite 'A' Ranji trophy cricket league match on Thursday. At close, Kerala were 13 for no loss.

Electing to bat on what appeared to be a batting pitch, UP, who were in a strong position at one stage at 165 for two, lost the initiative to some good bowling by Kerala. The visitors lost eight wickets for the addition of 49 runs.

Earlier, UP openers Rohit Prakash (26) and Jyoti Yadav (37) gave their side a good start by putting on 69 runs before Rohit was run out to a brilliant piece of fielding by Suresh Kumar. Jyoti was caught by Vipin Lal off Left-arm spinner M Suresh Kumar with UP on 89 for two.

Inform Suresh Raina and Rehet Elahi (24) added 77 runs for the third wicket, before the latter edged to wicketkeeper Deepak off Sreekumar Nair. Rizwan who came in at the fall of Elahi's wicket did not last long.

Thereafter wickets fell at regular intervals and UP innings ended 41 minutes before close of play. Raina scored 74 (8x4, 125 balls). He was dropped by Sunil Oasis in the slips off Sreekumar Nair with his individual score on 64 with UP on 178 for three.